20 March 2022, Texas, USA – The annual Arabian Racing Cup Darley Awards, held last evening, 19 March 2022, at the Sam Houston race track in Houston, Texas, brought fun, racing awards, and top camaraderie to the USA Arabian racing scene, giving awards for the 2021 racing season. Hiab Al Zaman, (Hilal Al Zaman x My Shelby Cobra by KAOLINO) was awarded the coveted Horse of the Year Award, after landing the Four Year-Old Champion Colt award. Owned by James and Susan Meyer, the miracle baby that almost died shortly after he was born has become a horse to follow, winning four of nine races in 2021, his first year of racing.
Sue Meyer talked about the beginning:
It was quite a thrill to win both categories.
Hiab’s journey has been a true roller coaster from the beginning. Starting off with the thrill of going from seeing such a nice colt born to a couple hours later realizing he had injured himself seriously. Luckily our foaling stall is attached to our house and our bedroom window looks into the stall. I was awakened after we had gone back to bed after his birth by the sound of him banging into the walls as he marched around the stall to the right. Apparently he had fallen getting up or down and had fractured his sinus and had a severe concussion.
After weeks of 24/7 care he steadily progressed and we had hope for his future.
We have been so blessed to have had Jeremias and Cristian Castro who have trained Hiab and taken care of him as if he was their own. They have really brought the absolute best out in him and keep him happy and looking forward to training everyday.
He has been such a joy to us. He has a great temperament and loves to race and compete. He has learned and improved after each race. After the Lone Star meet ended in December Hiab has had two months off and enjoyed going in and out as he pleased and being back home being pampered. He is back in training and is stronger and more focused than ever. His debut race this year will be the UAE President’s Cup on Preakness Day at Pimlico. We are really looking forward to 2022.
The 2022 Darley Awards event was held live in a suite at the Houston Race Park and the Darley Award winners were announced by ARC Chief Steward Jon Henningsgard and given awards by ARC members following dinner.
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